Dispensing apparatus for de-icing roadways and like surfaces

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for dispensing particulate material, such as rock salt, suitable for use in de-icing roadways and like surfaces. The disclosed dispensing apparatus comprises a stationary housing for storing the particulate material, the housing including a downwardly extending floor, generally funnel-shaped, having an orifice therethrough at its lowermost point. A dispensing tube having an axial bore therethrough is vertically positioned within the housing, the inlet end of the tube is positioned in spaced apart relationship relative to the orifice of the housing floor and axially aligned therewith. Valve means preferably in the form of a sleeve member is provided on the inlet end of the dispensing tube to selectively regulate the flow of particulate material between the inlet end and the housing floor adjacent the orifice. The valve means regulates the flow of the particulate material from an open position to a fully closed position. Air supply means in the form of a blower or turbine directs a high velocity air stream to the orifice of the housing floor and, upon activation of the valve means, the particulate material flows, by force of gravity, between the inlet end of the dispensing tube and the orifice of the housing floor, whereupon the material impinges upon the high velocity air stream and is conveyed upwardly through the dispensing tube by the air stream and dispensed at the discharge end of the tube, exterior the housing. A nozzle is preferably employed at the discharge end of the dispensing tube to direct the discharged particulate material to a given area. The valve means and air supply means are energized and deenergized by control means which is preferably activated by remote control.

United States Patent 1 1 Mack 1 1 DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR DE-ICING ROADWAYS AND LIKE SURFACES [76] Inventor: John A. Mack, 2815 Franklynn Dr.,

Allison Park, Pa. 15101 22 Filed: Feb. 14, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 442,382

[52] US. Cl 222/193, 222/464, 302/52;57 [51] Int. Cl. B65g 53/22 [58] Field of Search 222/193, 464; 302/52, 53,

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerFrederick R. Handren Attorney, Agent, or FirmWebb, Burden, Robinson & Webb [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for dispensing particulate material, such as rock salt, suitable for use in de-icing roadways and like surfaces. The disclosed dispensing apparatus comprises a stationary housing for storing the particulate material, the housing including a downwardly extending floor, generally funnel-shaped, having an orifice therethrough at its lowermost point. A dispensing tube having an axial bore therethrough is vertically positioned within the housing, the inlet end of the tube is positioned in spaced apart relationship relative to the orifice of the housing floor and axially aligned therewith. Valve means preferably in the form of a sleeve member is provided on the inlet end of the dispensing tube to selectively regulate the flow of particulate material between the inlet end and the housing floor adjacent the orifice. The valve means regulates the flow of the particulate material from an open position to a fully closed position. Air supply means in the form of a blower or turbine directs a high velocity air stream to the orifice of the housing floor and, upon activation of the valve means, the particulate material flows, by force of gravity, between the inlet end of the dispensing tube and the orifice of the housing floor, whereupon the material impinges upon the high velocity air stream and is conveyed upwardly through the dispensing tube by the air stream and dispensed at the discharge end of the tube, exterior the housing. A nozzle is preferably employed at the discharge end of the dispensing tube to direct the discharged particulate material to a given area. The valve means and air supply means are energized and deenergized by control means which is preferably activated by remote control.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 31858363 SHEET 20F 2 DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR DE-ICING ROADWAYS AND LIKE SURFACES My invention relates generally to dispensing devices and more particularly to a device which is useful for dispensing particulate materials onto roadways and like surfaces for de-icing purposes.

Heretofore, it has been common practice to de-ice roadways, and like surfaces, by spreading rock salt thereon by truck. This conventional de-icing method has several inherent shortcomings. Usually the roadway has already become snow and ice covered before the first salt trucks appear due to the natural time factor in calling the operators and readying the equipment. Also due to the fact that each salt truck covers many miles of roadway, there are instances, particularly in heavy snow or freezing rain, where the once salted roadway surface refreezes before the salt truck is able to return. This is particularly hazardous for the motorist on hills and on sharp curves. The salting of roadways by truck, likewise, is relatively expensive, requiring manpower to operate and maintain the trucks, fuel to run the trucks and the cost of the trucks themselves.

My invention solves many ofthe problems heretofore encountered in de-icing roadways and like surfaces by providing a dispensing apparatus which may be installed in spaced apart intervals along the roadway and which may be activated and de-activated by remote control.

My invention further provides a compact and relatively inexpensive dispensing apparatus which may be positioned above or below ground level, selectively lo cated at hills, curves, bridges or other hazardous sections of roadway.

My invention still further provides a dispensing apparatus which may also be employed for de-icing airport runways, pedestrian walkways, home driveways and like surfaces.

Briefly, my invention provides an apparatus for dispensing particulate material, such as rock salt, which is adapted to be positioned along roadways and like surfaces. My dispensing apparatus comprises a housing for storage of the particulate material, the housing having a funnel-shaped floor with an orifice therethrough at its lowermost point. A dispensing tube is vertically mounted within the housing, the inlet end of the dispensing tube positioned above the orifice of the housing floor and axially aligned therewith. Valve means preferably in the form of a sleeve member is positioned adjacent the inlet end of the tube for selectively opening and closing the area between the inlet and the housing floor adjacent the orifice. Air supply means in the form of a blower or turbine or the like is provided for selectively supplying a high velocity air stream to the orifice of the housing floor. Control means preferably activated from a location remote from that of the dispensing apparatus sequentially energizes and deenergizes the air supply means and valve means whereby the particulate material is conveyed upwardly through the dispensing tube by the high velocity air stream and dispensed onto an area of the roadway or like surface. The area of coverage of the dispensed particulate material may be regulated and controlled by a nozzle positioned at the discharge end ofthe dispensing tube.

Various other features, objects and advantages of the dispensing apparatus of my invention will either be specifically pointed out or become apparent when, for a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a cross-sectional view in front elevation of a presently preferred embodiment of my dispensing apparatus mounted below ground level;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed view of the valve means of the apparatus of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of one presently preferred embodiment of a dispensing nozzle suitable for use in my invention; and

FIG. 41 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a dispensing nozzle similar to FIG. 3.

Referring now to the specific details of the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the dispensing apparatus of my invention as it would appear mounted below ground level adjacent a surface to be deiced. It is, of course, understood that the dispensing apparatus may, likewise, be mounted above ground if desired; however the below ground installation of FIG. 1 is aesthetically more pleasing since the bulk of the apparatus is hidden from view. In such below ground installations, a concrete foundation 12 is preferably cast and positioned in the ground lll. Positioned within concrete foundation 12 is the apparatus housing, generally designated 10. Housing 10 is preferably cylindrical in shape but it could also be square or rectangular. Housing 10 comprises sidewalls 13 and water-tight upper surface 29. Interior portion 14 between housing floor l5 and sidewall 13 and upper surface 29 provides a storage area for the particulate material which is to be dispensed. Housing 10 also includes a base 37 at its lowermost point to receive blower l8 thereon. Housing 10 also contains a plurality of loading ports 41 through upper surface 29 each having removable cover plates 42 to permit the introduction of particulate material into storage area 14. Upper surface 29 and cover plates 42 are water-tight to prevent seepage of moisture into storage area 14. Floor 15 of housing 10 is generally funnelshaped, downwardly extending from sidewalls 13 to its point of conver gence, substantially at the axial center line of housing 10. An orifice 16 is formed through floor 15 at its point of convergence, i.e., at its lowermost point. A dispensing tube 20 having an axial bore 21 formed therethrough is vertically positioned within housing 10. Dispensing tube 20 has an inlet end 53 (FIG. 2) positioned within storage area 14 and an outlet end 54 positioned exterior of housing 10 (FIG. 1). As can be seen in FIG. 2, inlet end 53 of dispensing tube 20 is positioned above orifice 16 of housing floor 15, with bore 21 axially aligned with orifice 16. The diameter of bore 21 of dispensing tube 20 is preferably larger than the diameter of orifice 16 so that the high velocity air stream generated by blower 18 is directed into bore 21 rather than into storage area 14.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the area between inlet end 53 of dispensing tube 20 and floor 15 adjacent orifice 16 may be selectively opened and closed by valve means preferably in the form of sleeve member 22. Sleeve member 22 is cylindrically shaped and slideably mounted on inlet end 53 and is adapted for reciprocal vertical movement on dispensing tube 20. The terminal end 46 of sleeve member 22 is adapted to make bearing contact with housing floor 15 adjacent orifice 16 when in a closed position of FIG. 2, thus preventing the flow of particulate material into orifice l6. Sleeve member 22 is, likewise, adapted to move vertically upward to an open position depicted in FIG. 1. In the open position, terminal edge 46 of sleeve 22 is in spaced apart rela tionship to housing floor to permit the flow of particulate material into the area between the inlet end of dispensing tube and orifice 16 of housing floor 15.

Air supply means preferably in the form of blower 18 including a drive motor 19 is positioned on base floor 37, below storage area 14. Blower 18 is provided with air duct 17 which is attached to orifice 16. During operation, a high velocity air stream is directed through orifice 16 and upwardly through bore 21 of dispensing tube 20, while sleeve member 22 is in the open position of FIG. 1. The particulate material flows downwardly by the force of gravity along housing floor 15 adjacent inlet end 53 and into orifice 16, whereupon the particulate material impinges upon the upwardly directed high velocity air stream. The particulate material is then conveyed by the high velocity air stream upwardly through bore 21 of dispensing tube 20 and dispensed at the discharge end 54 thereof. An air inlet shaft 38, having an outer end 39 communicating with the atmosphere and an inner end 40 positioned below housing floor 15, supplies air to blower 18 during operation.

The operation of sleeve member 22 can best be understood by reference to FIG. 2. Sleeve member 22 has two pairs of parallel, spaced apart slots 31 formed through opposite sidewalls thereof. Slots 31 are inclined at an angle relative to a plane defined by terminal edge 46 of sleeve member 22. Two pairs of roller bearings 32 are rigidly mounted to and outwardly extend from opposed sidewalls of dispensing tube 20. Each bearing 32 is operably positioned within one of slots 31 causing sleeve member 22 to move vertically upwardly when it is rotated from left to right and. conversely to move downwardly when it is rotatably moved from right to left. The rotative movement of sleeve member 22 is accomplished by way of sleeve gear 30 which is rigidly attached to the outer periphery of member 22. Sleeve gear 30 has a width at least as great as the vertical rise of slots 31. A reversible motor 33 is attached to dispensing tube 20 by straps 36 and positioned above sleeve member 22. Motor 33 has a rotatable drive shaft 34 and a gear 35 operably connected thereto. Gear 35 engages sleeve gear 30, whereby, upon rotation of motor 33 in a first direction, shaft mounted gear 35 rotates sleeve gear 30 causing bearings 32 to operably engage slots 31 to urge sleeve member 22 rotatably downwardly to the closed position of FIG. 2. Upon rotation of motor 33 in a second direction, sleeve member 22 is rotatably moved upwardly to the open position of FIG. 1. During the opening and closing operations, it can be appreciated that sleeve gear 30 moves vertically upwardly and downwardly relative to the fixed location of motor gear 35. Therefore, the vertical width of sleeve gear 30 is at least as great as the vertical travel of sleeve member 22.

Housing 10 also preferably contains cylindrically shaped closure member 23. Closure member 23 is mounted within storage area 14 of housing 10 by strut members 24 which are secured to the inner sidewalls of housing 10 and to the outer sidewall of member 23. Closure member 23 surrounds dispensing tube 20 and protects motor 33, gears 35 and 30 and bearing members 32 from direct contact with the particulate material within storage area 14. It can thus be appreciated that the moving parts on sleeve member 22 function more efficiently when closure member 23 is employed. Member 23 also functions to detachably support dispensing tube 20 therewithin and permits the easy removal of dispensing tube 20 if maintenance is required. Member 23 contains an annular shaped support member 26 attached to its inner wall. A spacer plate 25 is rigidly attached to dispensing tube 20 and rests on support member 26. If motor 33 or gearing malfunctions during use, dispensing tube 20, motor 36 and sleeve member 22 may be removed from closure member 23 by simply raising the unit upwardly by way of I-bolts 47 which are attached to upper spacer plate 27.

In order to remove dispensing tube 20 from housing 10 while particulate material is in storage area 14, a shut-off means is provided at the lower edge of closure member 23 to prevent the particulate material from flowing downwardly into orifice 16 of housing floor 15. The lower edge of closure member 23 is provided with a sleeve rotatably attached thereto by way of threads 48. The inner sidewall of sleeve 55 has verti cally extending gear teeth 49 which operably engage gear 51. Gear 51 is attached to a rotatably mounted shaft 52 which extends vertically within closure 23 having a crank end 62.positioned near the upper portion of member 23, FIG. 1. In order to close sleeve 55, an operator would rotate crank 62 and shaft 52 causing sleeve 55 to rotatably move downwardly until it impinges upon floor 15. Sleeve member 22 could then be removed from closure 23 with no adverse leakage of particulate material into orifice l6 and blower 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, housing 10 may also include lower support struts 56 attached to housing sidewalls I3 and housing floor 15 to prevent distortion of floor 15 due to the weight of particulate material housed within storage area 14. Floor 15 may also contain a vibrator 43 in order to increase the flowability of the particulate material during operation. Vibrator 43 would be energized and de-energized simultaneously with blower 18.

While it is understood that my dispensing apparatus may be activated and de-activated manually, I prefer to employ means which may be controlled from a remote source, preferably by radio waves. As shown in FIG. 1, a radio receiver 57 having an antenna 58 is mounted on upper surface 29 of housing 10. Appropriate wiring conduits 59 and 60 extend from receiver 57 to motor 33 and blower 18, respectively. Upon the reception of a given frequency radio wave, receiver 57 would first energize blower l8 and then sequentially energize motor 33 causing sleeve member 22 to rotatably move upwardly to the open position of FIG. 1. The particulate material flows downwardly to orifice 16 whereupon it is conveyed upwardly by the high velocity air stream through dispensing tube 20 and ejected onto the roadway or like surface to be de-iced. Radio receiver 57 may also include timing means whereby after a given time period elapses, it would reverse the motor causing sleeve member 22 to proceed to the closed position and then sequentially de-energize blower 18. The timing means could be eliminated and radio receiver 57 could be adapted to receive a radio signal to sequentially de-activate the system. It can thus be appreciated that a plurality of my dispensing units could be remotely controlled from a central maintenance location or even by police patrol car radio.

While the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 shows blower 18 mounted within housing 10, it is, of course, understood that blower 18 could, likewise, be mounted above ground level whereupon the high velocity air stream would be directed to orifice 16 by way of an air duct (not shown).

Discharge end 54 of dispensing tube is preferably equipped with nozzle 50 whereby the flow of dispensed particulate material may be directed to a given area. FIGS. 3 and 4 depict two nozzle designs which accomplish the desired result. Likewise, nozzle 50 may be rotatably mounted on discharge end 54 of dispensing tube 20 and selectively rotated 360 by a servo-motor (not shown) in order to increase the area covered by the particulate material so dispensed. Such a dispensing apparatus would be particularly suited for installation along the medial strip between two lanes of a highway whereby both sides of the roadway could be deiced by a single dispensing unit.

While a presently preferred embodiment of my invention has been shown and described herein, it is clear that modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for dispensing particulate material comprising:

A. a housing for storing the particulate material having a downwardly extending converg'ently shaped floor, said floor having an orifice formed therethrough at the point of convergence;

B. a dispensing tube vertically mounted within said housing having an axial bore therethrough and having an inlet end and a discharge end, said inlet end positioned adjacent the orifice of the housing floor and axially aligned therewith;

C. valve means for selectively opening and closing an area between the inlet end of the dispensing tube and housing floor adjacent the orifice whereby the flow of particulate material between the inlet and orifice may be selectively regulated from an open position to a closed position;

D. means for supplying a high velocity air stream upwardly through the orifice of the housing floor and the bore of the dispensing tube; and

E. control means for sequentially energizing and deenergizing the air supply means and valve means, whereby, upon activation, said control means first energizes the air supply means and then sequentially energizes the valve means to an open position to permit the particulate material to flow between the inlet end of the dispensing tube and orifice of the housing floor whereupon the particulate material is conveyed upwardly through the dispensing tube by the high velocity air stream and dispensed at the discharge end of the tube, and upon deactivation, said control means sequentially closes said valve means to prevent the flow of particulate material and de-energizes said air supply means.

2. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the valve means includes a cylindrically shaped sleeve member slideably mounted on the dispensing tube at the inletend thereof for vertical reciprocal movement thereon, said sleeve member having a terminal edge adapted to make bearing contact with the housing floor adjacent the orifice of said floor when said sleeve member is in a closed position, said sleeve member also adapted to move vertically upwardly to an open position wherein said terminal edge is positioned in spaced apart relationship to the housing floor to permit the flow of particulate material in the area between the inlet end of the dispensing tube and orifice of the housing.

3. The dispensing apparatus of claim 2 wherein the sleeve member has two pairs of parallel, spaced apart slots formed through opposed sidewalls thereof. said slots inclined at an angle relative to a plane defined by the terminal edge of said sleeve member, said valve means also including two pairs of bearings rigidly mounted to and outwardly extending from the dispensing tube, each of said bearings operably positioned within one of said slots, said valve means further ineluding a sleeve gear rigidly attached to an outer periphery of the sleeve member and a shaft mounted drive gear operably engaging the sleeve gear, said valve means also including a reversible motor to selectively rotate said shaft mounted drive gear in two directions, whereby, upon rotation of the motor in a first direction, said shaft mounted gear rotates the sleeve gear causing rotation of said sleeve member and causing said bearings to operably engage said slots to urge said sleeve member rotatably downwardly to the closed position and upon rotation of the motor in a second direction said sleeve member is rotatably moved upwardly to the open position.

4. The dispensing apparatus of claim 3 including a longitudinally extending closure member positioned with the housing to detachably receive a portion of said dispensing tube and said sleeve member therein, said closure member having a lower edge positioned in spaced apart relationship relative to the floor of the housing to permit the flow of particulate material between the lower edge of the closure member and housing floor.

5. The dispensing apparatus of claim 4 including means associated with the closure member for selectively closing and opening the space between the lower edge of said closure member and the housing floor.

6. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 including a nozzle member positioned on the outlet end of the dispensing tube to direct the flow of the dispensed particu late material.

7. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control means for sequentially energizing and deenergizing the air supply means and valve means is activated and de-activated from a location remote from that of the dispensing apparatus.

8. The dispensing apparatus of claim 7 wherein the control means is activated and de-activated by a radio wave of a given frequency.

9. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axial bore of the dispensing tube is of a greater diameter than the orifice of the housing floor. 

1. An apparatus for dispensing particulate material comprising: A. a housing for storing the particulate material having a downwardly extending convergently shaped floor, said floor having an orifice formed therethrough at the point of convergence; B. a dispensing tube vertically mounted within said housing having an axial bore therethrough and having an inlet end and a discharge end, said inlet end positioned adjacent the orifice of the housing floor and axially aligned therewith; C. valve means for selectively opening and closing an area between the inlet end of the dispensing tube and housing floor adjacent the orifice whereby the flow of particulate material between the inlet and orifice may be selectively regulated from an open position to a closed position; D. means for supplying a high velocity air stream upwardly through the orifice of the housing floor and the bore of the dispensing tube; and E. control means for sequentially energizing and de-energizing the air supply means and valve means, whereby, upon activation, said control means first energizes the air supply means and then sequentially energizes the valve means to an open position to permit the particulate material to flow between the inlet end of the dispensing tube and orifice of the housing floor whereupon the particulate material is conveyed upwardly through the dispensing tube by the high velocity air stream and dispensed at the discharge end of the tube, and upon deactivation, said control means sequentially closes said valve means to prevent the flow of particulate material and deenergizes said air supply means.
 2. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the valve means includes a cylindrically shaped sleeve member slideably mounted on the dispensing tube at the inlet end thereof for vertical reciprocal movement thereon, said sleeve member having a terminal edge adapted to make bearing contact with the housing floor adjacent the orifice of said floor when said sleeve member is in a closed position, said sleeve member also adapted to move vertically upwardly to an open position wherein said terminal edge is positioned in spaced apart relationship to the housing floor to permit the flow of particulate material in the area between the inlet end of the dispensing tube and orifice of the housing.
 3. The dispensing apparatus of claim 2 wherein the sleeve member has two pairs of parallel, spaced apart slots formed through opposed sidewalls thereof, said slots inclined at an angle relative to a plane defined by the terminal edge of said sleeve member, said valve means also including two pairs of bearings rigidly mounTed to and outwardly extending from the dispensing tube, each of said bearings operably positioned within one of said slots, said valve means further including a sleeve gear rigidly attached to an outer periphery of the sleeve member and a shaft mounted drive gear operably engaging the sleeve gear, said valve means also including a reversible motor to selectively rotate said shaft mounted drive gear in two directions, whereby, upon rotation of the motor in a first direction, said shaft mounted gear rotates the sleeve gear causing rotation of said sleeve member and causing said bearings to operably engage said slots to urge said sleeve member rotatably downwardly to the closed position and upon rotation of the motor in a second direction said sleeve member is rotatably moved upwardly to the open position.
 4. The dispensing apparatus of claim 3 including a longitudinally extending closure member positioned with the housing to detachably receive a portion of said dispensing tube and said sleeve member therein, said closure member having a lower edge positioned in spaced apart relationship relative to the floor of the housing to permit the flow of particulate material between the lower edge of the closure member and housing floor.
 5. The dispensing apparatus of claim 4 including means associated with the closure member for selectively closing and opening the space between the lower edge of said closure member and the housing floor.
 6. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 including a nozzle member positioned on the outlet end of the dispensing tube to direct the flow of the dispensed particulate material.
 7. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control means for sequentially energizing and de-energizing the air supply means and valve means is activated and de-activated from a location remote from that of the dispensing apparatus.
 8. The dispensing apparatus of claim 7 wherein the control means is activated and de-activated by a radio wave of a given frequency.
 9. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axial bore of the dispensing tube is of a greater diameter than the orifice of the housing floor. 